HOUDEK, Raymond 'Ray' 1923 - 2017

HOUDEK, KONST, SAUER, BERDING, BRATTEN, JACOBSON, NANNENGA, TRITCH, PANDOLFI, COMIS, STEWART

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 10/23/2017 at 22:55:26

Raymond “Ray” Houdek, 81 of 1005 5th Avenue South, Clear Lake, died Monday, January 17, 2005, at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa.

A Funeral Mass will be held 10:00 AM Thursday, January 20, 2005, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1001 9th Avenue South, Clear Lake, with Msgr. Robert Hogan officiating. Burial will be held at the St. Boniface Cemetery, Garner, with military honors being conducted by the Garner Veteran Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 19, 2005, from 4:00- 7:00 PM at the Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 North 4th Street, Clear Lake.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Raymond Houdek Memorial Fund, which will go towards several various charities.

Raymond “Ray” Francis Houdek was born on April 8, 1923 in Garner. He was the son of Anton and Christina (Konst) Houdek. Raymond attended school in Garner. Later in life he received his GED. Raymond served in the US Army during WWII with the 323rd Infantry Division, Anti Tank Co. They were referred to as the “Wildcat Division”.

Ray Houdek married Anna Marie Sauer in May of 1944. She passed away in December of 1969.

Ray owned and worked at the Oliver Implement Plant and DX Gas Station, Klemme and worked at Nonweiler Construction, Clear Lake, and Clear Lake Public Schools.

Ray was united in marriage to Lenita Berding on January 16, 1971. They just celebrated their thirty-fourth wedding anniversary.

Ray’s favorite pastimes include fishing, hunting, gardening, square and polka dancing, and flying airplanes. He was a licensed private pilot. Ray was a loving and caring husband, devoted father, and a good neighbor.

Ray belonged to the PO.L.K of A, which he was a former prince in the Iowa polka club. He was also a member of the Garner American Legion, Rainbow Swingers Square Dance Club, and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Clear Lake.

Ray is survived by his wife, Lenita Houdek, Clear Lake; eight children; Patricia (Emil) Bratten, Lake Mills; Mary (Paul) Jacobson, Thompson; Cathy (Dennis) Nannenga, Garner; Deb (Randy) Tritch, Des Moines; Deanna (Jim) Pandolfi, Wheaton, IL; Allan Berding, Kennewick, WA; JoAnn (Spiro) Comis, Durham, NC; and Barbara (John) Stewart, Dorchester, Ontario, Canada; twenty-three grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; a special kitty, Sasha; and many good friends, neighbors, and square dancing friends.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Anna Marie, four brothers, and two sisters.

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel 641-357-2193